Karachi to see effects of deadly cyclone Ockhi

KARACHI: A powerful Cyclone Ockhi that has killed over a dozen people across India and Sri Lanka is expected to show effects in Pakistan’s coastal areas, the Met Office said on Saturday.

Cyclone Ockhi is expected to enter Arabian Sea from south east and will impact Karachi, Badin and Thatta on December 3 and 4 in the form of cloud cover, Geo News quoted the Met Office as saying.

The effects will begin to subside from December 4, the Met Office added.

Cyclone Ockhi barrelled into the Lakshwadeep islands in southwestern India on Saturday after drenching the neighboring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, claiming so far around 14 lives with many fishermen still feared trapped at sea.

Authorities including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India’s Coast Guard and Navy have rescued about 223 fishermen and evacuated thousands of people from cyclone hit areas, officials said, as they continued their operations on Saturday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, assuring him of support operations including necessary funds, according to local media.

Ockhi is expected to travel north towards Mumbai and Gujarat in the next 48 hours, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director S. Sudevan in Trivandrum, though it is likely to lose intensity.

“The intensity of the wind may come down and the cyclone could change into depression,” Sudevan said, adding fishermen have been warned not go to the sea for the next few days as waves are likely to be 3-5 meters (12-15 feet) high.